Samuel lewis



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'tlnitrh 'tzttrs atmt @frn SAMUEL LEWIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H CAMMEYER, OF SAME PLACE.

Lettera Paten! 'o. 80,492, dated July 28, 1863.

I IMPROVBD PORTABLE AND ADJUSTABLE STILL-WATER DAM.

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T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL LEWIS, of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented a new and improved Portable and Adjustable Dam for the Purpose of Producing Still Water in which to operate for the blasting and removal of obstructions in rivers and other water-courses; and I do hereby declare that thcvannexcd specification is a clear and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

It is a fact well known to practical men, that the work of blasting rocks under water is attended by many and great diicultics. Wherever such obstructions exist in a channel, they produce a throttling or contraction ofthe water-course, and n consequent acceleration of the current or tidal flow, that renders any operation with a view to their removal next to impossible, except during two or three hours in the twenty-four of each day. Taking, as an example, IIellGate, between the city of New York and Long Island, it has been found impracticable, owing to the intensity ofthe current, to work unintermittingly with any apparatus or process yet devised. On account ofthe nature `ol` the bottom, a coter-dam was out of the question; the driiling by hand from the surface is equally imprncticable, owing to the depth of the water and the ditiiculxy already named; while the surface-blasting of Maillcfert'was simply a criminal waste of explosives, which spent their force mainly upon the yielding water surrounding and overlying the blast or charge.

Thus, in the absence o' means to remove these suhaqueous obstructions, some of our most important waterthoroughfares are either partially or entirely closed to the commerce of the world, and vessels of light draught and small consequence to trade arc the only users of channels which, with but little addition to the work of nature, might be converted into highways for the most magnificent vessels and the most precious freights that float, at once increasing the inducements by extending the facilities of commercial intercourse.

In view of this most important desideratum, the present applicant has devised the apparatus herewith submitted, the main object of which he would premise to be the enabling of workmen (when necessary) to continue their operations during the entire day and night, without any reference to the strength or state of the tide, or the varying depth of the water, and, by using a number of drills simultaneously, to increase the amount of execution almost indefinitely. y I

These results can be accomplisheihit is believed, by the mechanism accompanying these presents, andy illustrated in the drawings attached, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation or view of the apparatus in its working position, showing thc methods of anchoring, xc.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section in the line of l 11, tig. 4, or along the foreandaft central line 0f the dam, showing the telescopic sections thereof, the position and direction of the drills, and the devices for sheathing or shortening the'dam.

Figure i is a vertical transverse suction in the line .l r, fig. .l. showing the manner of guiding and bracing the drills and drilltuhes, the manner of suspending thtI lain from the niain deck, the side anchorage, and, in the red lines, the appearance oi' the dani when sheathed or eloscil for shallow drilling or removal.

Figure 4 is a top or plan view, showing the form of the dani i.i its horizontal section, the positions of the drills, the indias-ses forvarying the` depth of the dam and for operating tlie anchors` and the general appearance and furnishing of the deck, as far as this application is concernesl. I i i The manner of constructing this dam is as follows: l

Two boats, 1 l, are prepared, (double-coders, as shown) on one or cach of which is an engine of requisite power, with propeller and machinery complete for moving the boat, raising the anchors, varying the depth of the dam, and operating the drills. These boats or hulls are then connected by a substan and door of which are seen at 13 14, 6g. 2.

This deelt has an opening in its centre equal to the horizontal area of the dam, as shown in lig. 4, for the purposes of access and lightl to the diver, Se. From this deck is suspended the telescopic or sectional portion of the apparatus, 2 2 2, with its chains and attachments all previously adjusted and ready to be drawn through their respective openings in the deck.

The manner of constructing the telescopic portion last mentioned is to prepare a series of plates, vunized iron or any other proper material, of suitable thickness, and bend and fasten them into th shown in lig. 4, si) as to offer the least resistance to the title or current, thereby easing the work of the a and contributing to the control of the apparatus generally. Each division of the dam is bent inwards at its upper edge, and at its lower outer edge has a strip fastened, so as to prevent the sections from separating. Each one at each end, which Serve :xs guides to the several sections while opening or closinc the lower eye-bolts of this series, 8x 8 8'( 8X,

tial deelt, the beams of galto obviate any serions amount of friction inthe shortening or extension of the dam, but these have not been deemed of' sutcient importance to be shown, as they would only bc needed where plates of insullicicnt thickness had been used, or where the-external pressure was extraordinary.

The lower section is provided with four framed wheels or eyebolts, 9 9 l* D, the former being preferable, furthe a:.clior-ehains, 11 11. to pass through. These chains are shown hooked on to the railing, but the intention is to have them, in practice, operated by tv-i'ndlasses similar to those shown for operating the dam The applicant does not desire to bind himselt to the use of une anchor from cach end and side, as shown, as circumstances may arise rendering it necessary' to attach an .anchor directly and exclusively to the guard of the boat, and another to the bottom of the dam, thereby duplicating the number of anchors shown.

The drills 4 4 work in tubes T 'i' 'i' T, the tubes being provided at their lower ends with threads, which screw into the lower longitudinal brat-.e ti, while the cxtreme threaded end of the tube receives a nut under the transverse braces.

The upper ends of said tubes play freelyin the guide-plate 18, so as to enable them to slide up and down, azi-l adapt themselves to the depth of the dam. A full-length tube, however, is not dceiued essential, as a sectim. of sufficient height above the braces 5 to prevent the drill from being entirely withdrawn therefrom during a rokq is. for some reasons` to be preferred. Thus, if the stroke of the drill be twelve inches, a length of tnhf of fifteen inches, set with a roekingjnint in the lower brace, would be all that is essential to guide the drill. Til-,- self-anchors, 3 3 3 3, are bars of iron, formed and moving in sockets, as showny and, by virtue of their :ri-l free play, adapt themselves to the irregularities of the bottom, and take a rigid and steady bold, lily necessary for the purposes of drilling. l: is intended, in practice, to connect those self-anchors k, so as to be able t take them out el' operation and out of the way, Wlicneierit may be desirable, t' :i cord, a wire, or a chain.

The telescopic apparatus, :has prepared, is ther. sus nded from the leek by the four links and bolts, IG tive openings and attached to their proper windlasses, and then, as fn" as regards this application, the dam is ready for work.

" .in ion of the apparatus will be as follows:

.':e i:1ts,da'n, anl all appurtenances and connections being complete, with thc sliding sections closed, as b v the red linei.. t g. il, the machine is :alien to the .spot on which it is intended to begin Work. Arriving :n anch-ir is le. azi-.l its cable paid on: to the fail length, the bint moving till the chain is taut and :mentir talles hold.

:i-.i 1T. the several chains :tril drawn through their respt.

n the other end :inclinr is dropped, and the two chains tahcn up till the lloutiiigstruci hell steadilyv ly the t t anchors. l 'de anchors are next launched from a lighter er attendant Wil be desirable to send down thc diverto explore the bottom a .d repn': :in v advisable change nl" positief.. l; he i,p=.rts that the self-anchors will have a better hold, an-.l t ill'- n heiter face to Werl; upon by a insee-nent in :my direction, one cable is let out and another taken 21. t.l :fr: |i-irel movement. fore and ufr or lzit-wal. has bwi effected, when the dani is lowered to its work, the :lo s taking hold of the bottom. snznt'tnii :After the manner shown, rendering any tnivement of the itrj tnrnbablc, espeeiall)- when assisted im' cfm-permite hold of the outsidelanchors. The drills :nl started, unl the work has fairly commenced, nils have penetrated to th\` desired lt-ptit they :ire \\i:h'lrn\\'n. the diver goes down and inserts the apparatus is ninvel a little out of th.l vin -ii these authors nre nil placed, it

tty u proper manipulation of the cables, and the lvin-i i` tirol from the deck. The machine is then replafed in its llrst position, the diver again going down to txnintne the execution of the lla. t,nnd tu indicate the position for the next drilling, and si) un, until the b3tt .n has !=..n hlisted out und the channel is clear of obstructions.

During the drilling, of course the tide will be rising nr falling. which will ren-ler neces-.sary occasional in the letgth of the cables and ndjnstnnnt of the drills; tu liich attention will be given by a man ennlel for that special duty.

llaving thus full)- described my still-attr dan; furthe retnornl of subaqneous obstructions', hat I claim as ncrv, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ir-

l. The construction and arrangement of a portable and adjustable lain in sli ling or telescopic sections, in the manner und for the purposes herein described. i V

2- The combination of th-:self-anehors-S with the dam, in the manner and for the purposes herein described.

8. The combinntion of the boots, supports, or oits with the dam, u above described, and tbe arrangement of onchorn to hold such bolts in position, in the manner and for the pnrposei described.

4. The combination ind arrangement of windlnises, chains, sind boats with the dun, ns nbovo ascribed, so that by the construction thereof 'a series of drills may be operated within und enclosed by the dam, in the manner and for the purposes herein described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this day of July, 1868.

SAMUEL LEWIS. Witnesses: l

C. A. Bunn, Y J. P. Kmox. 

